Tis the season to be jolly and for several Bourton Roadrunners it was the last opportunity for getting together with friends for social as well as competitive running. Some chose to run at formally timed events, while others opted for the freedom of a self-organised cross-country run and chat event. Some had even had their regular morning training run before taking part these events!
Tempo Winter 10k Series Race 3– 17th December 2023
For Lorna Shawcross, it was the challenge of competing in the Tempo Winter 10Km, with its hill and stunning views around the Ilmington and Mickleton area.
This was the third event of fully sold-out five race series, and Lorna completed the tough course in a time of 54 minutes and 9 seconds, claiming her well-earned finishers’ pack of locally produced sausages.
Hook Norton Xmas Canter - 17th December 2023
Steph and Gary Holton, and Susan Hunt joined friends from Running Somewhere Else at the Hook Norton Xmas Canter, which provided a chilly, hilly mix of road, track and fields, covering 7 miles for over 200 runners, with the Bourton group and their friends finishing in around an hour and a half.
Cardiff Festive 10k - 17th December 2023
Further afield, Jaq Underwood joined friends from Lliswerry Runners for the Cardiff Festive 10k, with many of the 200+ runners dressing as elves for this multi-terrain event that takes in the River Taff, Pontcanna Fields and the Millennium Bridge. Jaq completed the 10Km course in a leisurely 50 minutes and 37 seconds.
Mince Pie Run - 17th December 2023
Locally, a large group of the Club’s runners organised their own social run across the fields between Bourton on the Water and Clapton on the Hill, which unsurprisingly proved to be a little muddy for the two-dozen or so participants.
However, they ran and chatted their way around the countryside, often regrouping and checking that nobody had got lost, and finally meeting at Bourton Leisure Centre where they celebrated “baker Viv’s” birthday with mince pies, chocolates and traditional Panettone.
Parkrun - 16th December 2023
No weekend would be complete without a selection of parkrun events, with Bourton Roadrunners in presence at the following venues:
Chipping Norton School: Louise Hamilton-Smith – 29:44.
Cirencester: Margaret Skelding – 43:50.
Clapham Common: Eva Shoemark – 26:14.
Gunnersbury: Susan Hunt – 26:12.
Newport, South Wales: Jaq Underwood – 26:14.
Highlights
We had runners at Ilmington 10k Race 3, Hook Norton Xmas Canter and the Cardiff Festive 10k.
Our Mince Pie social run attracted two-dozen runners.
Hook Norton Xmas Canter - 17-12-2023
Jaq (6) with friends at Cardiff Festive 10k - 17-12-2023
A brief moment of recovery during the Mince Pie run - 17-12-2023
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.